KONTIOLAHTI, Fin.-A group of Canadian biathletes joined forces to crack the top-10 in their return to the World Cup for a unique mixed-team relay competition in Kontiolahti, Finland on Friday.
Canada's Megan Imrie, of Falcon Lake, Man., Zina Kocher, of Red Deer, Alta., Scott Perras, of Regina, Sask., and Brendan Green, of Hay River, N.W.T., teamed up to finish 10th after posting a combined time of one hour 18 minutes 56.1 seconds. "Our goal was to finish in the top-eight today so we were a little disappointed with 10th," said Megan Imrie, who had one of her best races of the year. "We know that with good shooting and no penalty loops we can be in the top-six and even fighting for a podium on a perfect day." With most of the team fighting jet leg and warn down following the Olympic Winter Games, the mixed team relay has the women athletes twice completing a 3K loop which is highlighted with fast downhills, sharp corners, and relentless climbs. The men race 7.5K. Each athlete has two bouts of shooting. With the Canadians fighting their way into the top-10, it was the dominant Norwegians that celebrated on top of the podium. The four-athlete team from Norway clocked a combined time of 1:14:55.0.
Germany finished second at 1:15:00.4, while Italy was just over 30 seconds off the golden pace at 1:15:30.6 in the bronze medal spot on the podium. The World Cup continues in Finland throughout the weekend with sprint and pursuit competitions. Biathlon Canada, the governing body for biathlon in the country, oversees the Canadian Championships, Eastern and Western Canadian Championships, and the North American Cups held in Canada. The organization's mandate is to provide national level programs for the continuous development of biathlon athletes from the grassroots to the elite level. For more information on Biathlon Canada, please visit their Web site at www.biathloncanada.ca
WORLD CUP RESULTS: Relay Top-Five Results: 1. Norway, 1:14:55.0; 2. Germany, 1:15:00.4; 3. Italy, 1:15:30.6; 4. Belarus, 1:15:37.2; 5. Russia, 1:16:07.7 Canadian Result: 10. Canada, 1:18:56.1
